M I D L E I N S T E R R E G I O N

Transcription

1 M I D L E I N S T E R R E G I O N Annual General Report 2013

2 Committee for President: Bert McKay President Elect: Barbara Burke Honorary Secretary: Josephine O Cleirigh Honorary Assistant Secretary: Marian McKay Honorary Treasurer: Veronica Farry Ex-Officio: Neil Burke Development Officer: Ann Burns Development Officer: Evelyn Blennerhassett Committee: Angela Doran O Reilly Committee: Geraldine Keane 2

3 Acknowledgements The Mid Leinster Region wish to thank the following for their support during the past year.. Kathleen McCorry from Cunningham s, for sponsoring the MLR Leagues. Westmanstown Sports & Leisure Centre, for the use of their premises on an ongoing basis. Westmanstown Bridge Club for their generosity in allowing us the use of their equipment. Leixlip Bridge Club, for their generosity in allowing us the use of their equipment. CBAI, Mr Paul Porteous and the staff in Head Office who are always there to advise and support Tournament Directors, Mr. Bernard Higgins & Mr Michael O Malley & Neil Burke. Workshop. Mr. Tomás MacCormac (President Elect CBAI 2013/14) & Roisin Troy for their valuable expertise in running our workshop on 19th July Springfield Hotel, Leixlip. Padraig Kennedy and staff who looked after us so well for our Regional Pairs Event on December 1st Courtyard Hotel, Leixlip. PJ Doyle who gave us the room free and provided a beautiful lunch. At a very reasonable rate. Both PJ and his staff looked after us extremely well on the day for our Regional Teams Event on March 2nd Our Lady s Parish Centre, Leixlip. Our thanks to Bernadette Murray and volunteers for their in booking rooms for our AGM and other events throughout the year. St. Mary s GAA Club, Leixlip. Our thanks to George for his assistance in accommodating us for our Delegates meeting and our Fun Team of 4 which we are running on May 18th

4 Agenda for AGM MLR - May 17th Minutes of AGM May 18th Matters Arising 3. Presidents Address 4. Secretary s Report 5. Treasurer s Report 6. Sub Groups Report Regional Cunningham Leagues Communications Development Website 7. Election of Committee 8. Motions & Proposals 9. Appointment of Delegates to National AGM 10. Appointment of Auditor 2013/ AOB 4

5 Mid Leinster Bridge Region AGM Friday 18 th May 2012 held in Leixlip Attendance: Neil Burke, Jim Egan (Castleknock), Barbara Burke (Westmanstown & D15), Ann Burns (Maynooth), Bert McKay (Leixlip), John O Connor (Celbridge), Mary Greene (Coolmine), Angela Doran O Reilly (Celbridge), Evelyn Blennerhassett (Westmanstown), Mary Donohoe (Confey), Kevin Dunne (Confey), Luke Fitzgerald (Confey), Maire O Keeffe (Kill), Marie Collins (Kill), Cait Jacob (Kill), Jim Murray (The Thatch), Joan O Cleirigh (Leixlip), Marian McKay (Leixlip), Tony Smyth (Castleknock), Mary Waters (Millennium), Veronica Farry (Cnucha), Bernard O Byrne (St.Brigid s), Tony Sharkey (Early Birds), Linda Foster (Confey), Gerry McDonald (Leixlip), Áine Purcell (Rathcoole). Apologies: Paddy McMahon (Navan Rd.), Blanaid Morris (D15), Elaine Ferris (Maynooth), Roisin Troy, Melita O Gorman (St.Mary s, Lucan), Mairead Daly (Westmanstown), Geraldine Keane, Joan Murphy (Leixlip), David Gadd (Leixlip). Minutes of 2011 AGM: The minutes of the 2011 AGM were read out by the Secretary. Copies were circulated to the meeting. Adoption of the Minutes was proposed by Barbara Burke and seconded by Mary Greene. It was noted that during the course of the year a new Auditor, Brendan O Driscoll, was appointed. Ann will circulate the Minutes to all clubs. President s Address: The President, Neil Burke, has come to the end of his two years. He enjoyed his term in office, especially working with the Committee. While there were disagreements, they all lead to a healthy working committee and all was for the betterment of the Region. We all ended up still friends with each other. There are areas that still need the attention of the incoming committee. When his presidency started we were worried about the lack of novices in the Region. The life of a club depends on novices. This year we had 10 Novice teams in the League. We also held a very successful Novice and B Day in February. Clubs should be encouraged to admit novices and help them along for their first year. We got very good sponsorship from Cunningham Funeral Directors for our Leagues and consequently were able to do a lot more e.g. cheese and wine, more prizes and subsidized End of Year League Dinner. We did more to encourage players to play in National Competitions. We had 6 Novice Pairs in the JJ Murphy. We paid the entry fee for all the novices. In addition this year we were able to pay the entry fees for all our representatives in the National Finals. Neil thanked all the teachers in the Region. Teachers are the life line of Bridge. Two of our teachers Maire O Keeffe and Roisin Troy are on the CBAI Teaching Committee. We should encourage more people to take up teaching. All development in Bridge is done without any support from Government. He complimented Maire O Keeffe on her book which is proving very successful. It is very well written and easy to read, a great book for beginners. Students who do attend classes should be encouraged to progress to clubs that are affiliated to the CBAI. Neil claims that we are hosting the upcoming European Championships, essentially because the venue is based in our Region! None the less, he encouraged all our members to support them, by coming along to view the play, or playing in the Open Pairs or viewing it on Bridge Base, even to book into one of the tours. Names are to go to Barbara. Neil thanked all of the committee individually and wished Bert the best for the next 2 years as President. In particular he thanked Barbara who worked tirelessly to push all the events in the Region. He also thanked all our clubs and players. 5

6 From CBAI: A long was received from Paul Porteous, General Secretary of the CBAI, giving apologies for not attending the meeting He had a prior family engagement. He thanked all the Regional Officers for their commitment over the past year. Paul covered the following topics. His recent interview with Joe Moran on the John Murray Show. His hope that our own Maire O Keeffe would be doing the coverage of the European Championships on TG4. He congratulated Maire as well on the success of her book Bridge Made Simple for beginners. He congratulated our prize winners at National Competitions. He sympathised with all clubs who had lost members during they year and he remembered all those who were in hospital. He hoped we had an opportunity to look over the Regional Guidelines which were issued during the year. He wished us every success in the upcoming National Fun Team of Four, which is being held in our region. He encouraged us to make nominations for the President s Award. He acknowledged the fantastic level of participation in the CBAI Regional Simultaneous Pairs and hoped we would encourage even more clubs to play. He sent down several copies of the Bridge Journal. The circulation had fallen in recent years so he hoped we could persuade clubs to sign up for it. He thanked everyone who had so far contributed to the European Fund Raising. Apparently there are only 4 clubs in the Region who have not yet contributed. He encouraged everyone to support the Championships and to come along and see what happens at a major tournament and even play in the Open Pairs. Secretary s Report: The Secretary had prepared a written report, copies of which were available to the meeting. She outlined the events which had taken place over the year - The Regional Pairs and Teams Qualifiers and Finals, the JJ Murphy, the Simultaneous Pairs, the Inter Club Leagues, the Novice Competition, the Fun Team of Four, Beginners Classes in Naas, End of Year Dinner. In particular she named the members who had featured in National Competitions giving their overall placing. Finally she thanked everyone for their help. Treasurer s Report Treasurer s Report: John O Connor distributed copies of the Statement of Accounts for the year 2011/2012. We have currently a balance of A few questions were answered by John and he explained that as the accounts are signed off at the end of April, there are always several large expenses outstanding at that stage and that these expenses are recorded in the next year s accounts. Acceptance of the Statement was proposed by Jim Egan and seconded by Evelyn Blennerhassett. Development Officers Reports: Barbara presented a written report to the Meeting copy attached. As most of the projects she worked on were already covered by the President and Secretary she just commented on the following nearly all the clubs in the Dublin side of the region are full, so new clubs have been established to facilitate the novices who have just finished classes. 3 new clubs have opened D14, Castleknock Tennis Club and Vue. Two of these are day time clubs. She also pointed out that we participated in the new M50 Tournament with our Novice Team winning but the other levels did not do so well. Bert similarly reported that a new club would be set up in September in the Naas Lawn Tennis Club. He would also continue with the beginners classes here next year. Essentially the aim here is that those attending the classes would feed into the clubs in the Naas area. Unlike the Dublin side of our Region the clubs in Naas area are in danger of closing due to lack of numbers. 6

7 Election of Committee: As President Elect Bert McKay will take over the Presidency for the next two years. The nominees for the other positions on the Committee were deemed elected as no opposing candidates were proposed. The new committee is as follows Position Proposer Seconder President Bert McKay Josephine O Cleirigh Rita Lacey President Elect Barbara Burke Yvonne Dalton Brendan O Driscoll Hon. Secretary Joan O Cleirigh Moira Hogan Dolores Farnan Assistant Secretary Marian McKay Sheila Dempsey Moira Hogan Hon. Treasurer Veronica Farry Geraldine Keane Barbara Burke Development Officers Evelyn Blennerhassett Barbara Burke Mary Higgins Ann Burns John O Connor Angela Doran O Reilly Ex Officio Neil Burke Committee John O Connor Kathleen McIntyre Teresa McCarthy Geraldine Keane Barbara Burke Rosemary Kennedy Angela Doran O Reilly John O Connor Teresa McCarthy Nomination of Auditor: It was agreed that Brendan O Driscoll would be our auditor for New President s Address: Bert, our new President then addressed the meeting. He thanked everyone for coming. He outlined some of the things that needed attention in the coming year: 1. Continue to promote classes for Beginners 2. Look at the rules again for the Leagues 3. Look at the possibility of 1 date and 1 venue for all league matches 4. More Tournament Directors needed in the region 5. He would like to visit all clubs He complemented the outgoing committee for all the work done Bert welcomed the new members coming onto the committee, particularly the new Secretary Josephine O Cleirigh, the Assistant Secretary Marian McKay and the new Treasurer Veronica Farry. Bert also assured both the new incoming Development Officers of his and Barbara s assistance to them in their new roles. Delegates for AGM: The AGM of the CBAI is to be held on Sat. 7th July in the Raheen Woods Hotel in Athenry. We are allowed 5 delegates. It was agreed that they would be the President (Bert McKay), Secretary (Joan O Cleirigh), the 2 Development Officers (Ann Burns and Evelyn Blennerhassett) and the President Elect (Barbara Burke). If anyone could not make it Marian McKay and?? were proposed as substitutes. Presentation: At this point presentations were made to 3 members of the outgoing committee for Outstanding Service in getting the Region up and running over the past 4 years. The 3 member of the committee were stepping down from Officer positions. Any Other Business: For the last few matches of the Master League the matches were changed to Sunday evenings from Fridays. This was due to the unavailability of Westmanstown. A request was made to try and not have all the matches on Sunday evenings. Signed: 7

8 We are delighted to welcome three new clubs to our Region, Maynooth 2012, Naas Trumps & K Club. This brings the number of clubs in our Region to 35. Regional Membership Numbers for September 2012 our membership was 2182, currently we have 2343 members. All clubs in Mid Leinster have paid their affiliation Fees: Regional Pairs: Entries: Pairs : 33 Pairs up 50% on 2012 Regional Teams Entries: Teams 21 Teams up 100% Novice B Day 37 Pairs 33 Pairs down 11% on 2012 National Events Mid Leinster Region fulfilled their allocation to the National Events i.e. Pairs and Teams. Note that the allocation for each region is notified by the CBAI. The allocation for the Mid Leinster Region is as follows: Davidson Cup for Master (3) Laird Cup for Intermediate A (2) Civil Service Cup for Intermediate B (2) Entry fees were paid by the Region) JJ Murphy for Novices (5 pairs and the region paid their Entry Fees) These are all pairs competitions. Some good results from Mid Leinster Pairs, which can be viewed on the Mid Leinster Website. (Teams) Kelburne Cup for Master (2 teams), Bankers Trophy for Intermediate A (2 teams), Tierney Trophy for Intermediate B (2teams ) The entry fee for all teams representing Mid Leinster were paid for. The National Teams event was held in the Heritage Hotel in Portlaoise over the Weekend 20 th 21 th April Annual General Meeting MLR This years Annual General Meeting is on the 17 th of May in Leixlip Parish Centre at 7:30pm. All Club Secretaries have been Notified of the AGM. Agenda, Proposal, and Nomination forms for committee have also been sent out with the relevant return dates as per Mid Leinster Region Constitution. Committee are for a two year period so there will be no election, however one position is available on the committee which will be open to the floor at the AGM. Mid Leinster Regional Website We are delighted to inform you that our website is presently under construction. We have changed over to Bridgewebs as our new provider. Neil Burke and Angela Doran-O Reilly are our administrators and some access will be afforded to our Development Officers. We are hoping to go live within the next few weeks and invite you to log on to and come back to us with comments and suggestions. You will receive a Club Detail Capture Form from our Regional Secretary over the next few days. We ask that you return your completed form as soon as your AGM takes place. Your club details can then be uploaded on the website. 8

9 Winners of Major CBAI Competitions 2012/2013 9

10 The President of the Mid Leinster Region, Bert McKay and all the committee wish to extend a very sincere thank you to all the clubs and their members who supported our Regional Events throughout the year. Congratulations to all who qualified and went on to do extremely well in the National Events. Even if you didn t come away with an award we sincerely hope you all enjoyed your bridge and the weekend away. We would like to congratulate Ann Burns & Roisín Troy (MLR Masters) on Winning the Lambert Cup, also Monica and Ronnie Woods (MLR Novice) on winning JJ Murphy Cup. They did our region proud Congratulations must also go to Marian McKay and Sheila Dempsey, Confey Bridge Club who were the overall winners for Tuesday night in the CBAI Simultaneous Pairs: We would like to see more clubs participate in our Regional Events, it is a good way to improve your game of bridge and also an opportunity to meet and socialise with members from other clubs. The CBAI are aware of the disappointment some of you experienced in the Carlton Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe. There were a few reports of disappointment also from the Heritage Hotel in Portlaoise. We apologise for this and assure you that the matter will be taken on board by CBAI Tournament Directors Course Basic Level The regional committee decided that there was a need to run a Tournament Directors Course/ Basic Level for Clubs. The idea here was that clubs basically had the same people doing the job and that there was a need to get other members involved. The course was run in Leixlip Parish Centre on Saturday, November 3rd Course instructors were Bernard Higgins & Michael O Malley. We looked at the format required and decided on the following: Duties of the tournament director Simple movements Mitchell & Howell Introduction to some of the Laws of bridge Penalty card major/minor Revoke Insufficient bid Lead out of turn We had twenty people attend the course and feedback was very positive, handouts were given on all the topics covered. We hope to run a similar course in the coming season and are also looking at running a course for Regional Tournament Directors over the next couple of months. 10

11 IBU Simultaneous Pairs: This years IBU Simultaneous Pairs are on the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th of November 2013 Each club in the Region should endeavour to run an Event for the Simultaneous Pairs. CBAI Simultaneous Pairs: The dates for next years CBAI Simultaneous pairs are the 3rd to 7th of February Make sure to flag this event on your Club Calendar. Paul Porteous, CBAI would like to see more clubs participating in the CBAI Simultaneous Pairs in Annual General Meeting CBAI: The Contract Bridge Association of Ireland will hold their Annual General Meeting on July 6th in City West Hotel. Public Liability Insurance Cover: Important Notice When you receive your affiliation list next Autumn, on the last page you will find a declaration to be signed, where heretofore you have summarised the numbers in your club and made alterations to any standing information we might have about your club, We are asking all Clubs who have not yet joined the Public Liability Insurance Scheme which is now operated on our behalf by Reddan Insurance Ltd to confirm in writing that they have proper public liability insurance cover in place. The rate that has been negotiated for our group is extremely competitive at 85 per annum for a cover of 6.5m regardless of the number of members in your club. This cover is more competitive than any individual quote reported by clubs.. Application form available from CBAI head office, and will also be available from County Development Officers. 11

12 MID LEINSTER REGION Regional Pairs Master & Intermediate A December 1st 2012 Tournament Director- Michael O Malley We would like to thank the qualifiers who went forward to represent the Region in the National Pairs Event (Davidson Cup) in the Carlton Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe on Saturday and Sunday, March 23rd & 24th

13 MID LEINSTER REGION Regional Pairs B & Novice Section December 1st 2012 Tournament Director- Michael O Malley We would like to thank the qualifiers who went forward to represent the Region in the National Pairs Event (Civil Service Cup) in the Carlton Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe on Saturday and Sunday, March 23rd & 24th

14 MID LEINSTER REGION Regional Teams Master & Intermediate A & Intermediate B Team Courtyard Hotel, Leixlip March 2nd 2013 Tournament Director- Michael O Malley The Mid Leinster Regional Teams were held in Leixlip on Saturday, March 2nd 2013, in the Courtyard Hotel, Leixlip, which offered a picturesque setting that overlooks the River Liffey. Through the 1970 s 1980 s the site ran into ruin and disarray but yet through it all the original walls of the brewery still stood. In the 1990 s the site was finally bought over by its current owner, Mr. Luke Moriarty, who had a vision of a hotel on the site incorporating the original features, such as the stone walls of the brewery and incorporating them into a contemporary, modern hotel. We were delighted with a total entry of 21 teams on the day. 4 Master, 10 Inter A and 7 B teams. Our Tournament Director, Bernard Higgins ensured the competition ran very smoothly. My Thanks to all of our Clubs in the Region who supported this Event. In Particular I want to thank the Staff in the Courtyard Hotel, for their support and co operation on the day. I also wish to thank Leixlip Bridge Club for giving us the use of their equipment. Congratulations to all our Winners, I wish them all the best of luck in the National Teams Finals, which will be held in the Heritage Hotel in Portlaoise in April. All the qualifiers were notified in writing. Finally I want to say thanks, and very well done to Josephine O Cleirigh, and Marian McKay for Organising the event. Bert McKay, President MLR Our pictures shows a section of the Teams who attended the event in the Courtyard Hotel, Leixlip Results for all National Events can be seen on page nine 14

15 Novice & B Day Competition The novice and B Day Competition took place in Westmanstown Sports & Leisure Centre on February 23rd Our sincere thanks to out Tournament Director for the Competition Neil Burke and to Marian McKay for organising the Event. We would like to congratulate the winners and thank all the participants who made the day very enjoyable. Without their support these Events couldn t happen. 15

16 CUNNINGHAM LEAGUES PRESENTATION DAY The Mid Leinster Region held their Presentation night for this years Cunningham Leagues on Saturday the 11th May 2013 in Westmanstown Sports & Leisure Centre. It was a wonderful occasion with eight of the teams participating in the Finals. A further 20 tables played alongside in Open Pairs. The Bridge was followed by dinner and the Presentation of Prizes to the Winners of the Leagues. In attendance was guest of honour Kathleen McCorry who was representing Cunningham's Funeral Directors who are the sponsors of our Leagues. Well done to all Concerned. A record number of 44 teams, participating in the leagues this year along with the fundamental changes in the format ensured that all the teams who participated had a minimum of five matches to play. It has been a very successful league campaign and we are looking forward to more improvements next season. Hope you all enjoyed the leagues as much as we did. Bert McKay Mrs Kathleen McCorry, who represented Cunningham Funeral Directors at the Presentation Dinner League Winners 2013 Master League 1st Place Castleknock (Ann Clerkin) 2nd Place Castleknock (John McNamara) 3rd Place Celbridge (Angela Doran O Reilly) Master Winners : Castleknock (Ann Clerkin, Peter Rooney, Liz Dixon Sue Streek, Mary O Sullivan, Renee Kelly Master Runner up: Castleknock (Tony Smyth, David Melody, John McNamara, Deirdre Ridgeway, Jim Master 3rd: Celbridge (John O Connor, Angela Doran O Reilly, Ann Burns, Joe Coyne) Intermediate A League 1st Place Westmanstown (Michael Fitzgerald) 2nd Place Westmanstown (Owen Cummins) 3rd Place Castleknock (Evelyn Quinn) 4th Place Leixlip (Moira Hogan) Inter A Winners : Westmanstown (Michael Fitzgerald, John Doyle, Una Gillespie, Evelyn Ennis, Arthur McGrail, Ann Madden) Inter A Runner up: Westmanstown (Owen Cummins, Paul Philips, Brendan O Driscoll, Catherine Yeats, Carmel Hickey) 16

17 Cunningham Leagues Prize-giving & Celebration Inter A 3rd: Castleknock (Evelyn Quinn, Ann Murphy, Maria Lister, Brian Mullan, Vera Smyth) Intermediate B League 1st Place Coolmine (Margaret Mellett) 2nd Place Leixlip (Joan Mulroy) 3rd Place Coolmine (Michael McGee) Inter A 4th : Leixlip (Moira Hogan, Alison Blanchfield, Alo Sweeney, Bridie Coyne) Inter B Winners : (Margaret Mellett, Jane Weedle, Marie Keating, Isla Rogerson, Kevin Doyle, Catherine Mooney) Inter B Runner up: Leixlip (Joan Mulroy, Jackie Taylor) Veronica Mahon, Brid Donnelly) Novice League 1st Place Clane (Jim Rowley) 2nd Place Coolmine (Angela Harford) 3rd Place Castleknock Lawn Tennis Club (Blanaid Morris) Novice Winners : Clane (Jim Rowley, Michael Byrne, Michael Cuddihy, Sal Higgins, Mari Glynn, Ann Looram ) Ann Burns and Roisin Troy travelled to the Loughrea Hotel, as did Ronnie and Monica Woods. In their wildest dreams, could they have imagined they d be coming home with the Lambert and JJ Murphy Trophies. They received a well deserved ovation from the Attendance in Westmanstown. Well done Ann, Rosin, Ronnie and Monica. Novice Runner up: Coolmine (Angela Harford, Phil Horan, Barry Conway, Brid Sheridan, Brigid Connolly, Marie Thynne Lambert meets Murphy in Westmanstown Inter A 3rd: CLTC (Blanaid Morris, Mary Power, Ronnie Woods, Monica Woods) The JJ Murphy Trophy and the Lambert Cup were together on display at the Cunningham Leagues Presentation in Westmanstown on the 11th May. Kathleen Lambert was one of the Founder Members of the CBAI. Kathleen was President of CBAI in the 30s. She was also known as Aunt Kitty to one Ruth Giddings who is arguably the best player this Country has ever seen. JJ Murphy is from Longford and is a past President of the CBAI (1980). 17

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19 APPOINTMENT OF DELEGATES TO NATIONAL AGM (5) APPOINTMENT OF HON AUDITOR 2013/

20 M I D L E I N S T E R R E G I O N 20